Benefits

I've started this blog to force me to keep updated records of my experience with homeschooling my son, Lucas. He is five years old now and ready to start kindergarten. My husband and I have discussed our choices: public, private, and homeschooling... and at least for this year, we have decided that homeschooling is the right choice for our family. We are only planning one year at a time. If this year is absolutely perfect, then of course we will repeat. However, we're not going to trap ourselves into a situation that's terrible for any one of us.

When discussing homeschooling, we included Lucas in our discussion. He is thrilled about the idea of mommy teaching him at home. We did preschool at home (with many classes being taken at the YMCA) but that was probably more unschooling than homeschooling. I admit, a part of the reason Lucas wants to homeschool  is that he feels that he's not ready to leave my side, except with family. This is a slight concern with me but he's five. I'm going to enjoy the times he WANTS to be with be, before we reach the time that he wants NOTHING to do with me. Still, since this is a concern, however slight, Lucas will be taking karate & swim classes at the YMCA. He's very good at listening to other teachers; always has been.

When my husband and I started looking into schools for Lucas, we decided that public schools weren't right for him. He's very quick in some things and hesitant to learn in others. He excels when given just the right amount of attention. He could read the alphabet before he could talk. This wasn't because I pushed it on him or even taught it to him. He was curious about a toy, one of those leapfrog buses, and whatever questions he had, I answered. I have the utmost respect for public school teachers. I was one and plan to be again, someday. But I know that public school teachers don't have the time to tender to one child when s/he needs it most.

Then, we looked at private schools. There are two types of private schools: religious & secular. Researching the secular schools around us showed that secular schools are very expensive. They may be worth it, but not for our child, not for Kindergarten! Then there are the religious schools... The things that "sells the schools" to most families are where they lost us. We are not a religious family and we don't want any religion being taught to Lucas as if they were facts. We are the parents and we get to decide what is best for our children and in the case of our family, the answer turned out to be homeschooling.

There are many benefits to homeschooling. The best, by far, is the student to teacher ratio! We have three adults in this house (one of my brothers lives with us) and right now, one child. No school can beat those numbers! Other advantages include letting the child set the pace and choosing what and how we teach. Right now, the one benefiting us the most, we get to choose WHEN we teach! We can take a vacation while other families are sending their children off to school.

I have decided that Lucas' first day of school will be September 13th. You can never fail when 13 is involved :-) We will spend the week buying school supplies and turning sections of the house into a school (rug, desk, centers, etc...) Then on the first day, I will take pictures of Lucas like every other parent, possibly even more! Then, instead of sending him off to a place that results in a day that was "fine," I will spend the day "playing" with my child!